Engine-priming device



H. R. PATTERSON ENGINE PRIMING DEVICE March 4, 1924.

Filed Nov. 28 1919 INVENToR.

Har/r Patterson.

ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 4, 1924. I

UNITED STTES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY R. PATTERSON, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MSNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE ELFITBIC AUTO-LITE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

ENGINE-Piemme nnvrcn To all whomzt may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY R. PA'rrnRsoN, a. citizen of the United States,residing at Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Priming Devices, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and particularly to engines of that type which are intended to operate on a fuel .which is not readily vaporized when the engine is cold.

-It is an object of my invention to provide means for supplying tothe engine 'for starting when cold a more volatile fuel upon which the en ine may be operated until it has develope sutlicient heat to permit its operation upon the less volatile fuel employed for normal running.

Another object of my invention is the provision in such an arrangement of means whereby a more volatile fuel may flow to the engine only during starting of the same when the air supply is restricted.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means for restricting the flow of the less volatile fuel to the engine when the connection to the more volatile fuel is open and the air supply is restricted the arrangement being such that by means of a single actuated memberthe more volatile fuel onlymay first be admitted to the-engine and subsequently as this supply is diminished, the less volatile fuel be admitted in increasing quantities.

Further' objects of this invention relate to economies of manufacture and details of construction as wlllhereinafter appear from the detailed description to follow. I accomplish the objects of my invention in one instance by the devices and means described in the following specifications, but it is evident that the same may be varied widely without departing from the scope of the invention as pointed out inI the appended claims. A structure constituting one embodiment of my invention, which may be the preferred, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which: y

Figure I shows in vertical cross section a portion of the cylinder of anv internal combustion engine together with fuel supplying i and vaporlzing means therefor4 comprising my invention. Fig. II is a horizontal cross section on the line II-II of Fig. I and Fig. III is a cross sectionalview taken on the line 'III-III of Fig. II. i

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the end s of the section lines.

Onthe drawing there is representedat 5 the upper portion of the cylinder of an engine of the Knight sleeve valve type having` a pistonv 6 and sleeve 7 to control the inward flow of fuel from the inlet chamber 8 and the exit of the burned gases into the exhaust chamber 9. Connecting with the inlet. chamber 8 is a tubular member'lO which comprises a horizontal portion 11 and a vertical portion 12. The horizontal portion 11 has a passage therethrough in the and 15 forming what is commonly known as a Venturitube. Within-the conical portion 15 there is mounted a nozzle and valve member 16. This member has an opening therethrough in alignment with the axis of the cones 14 and 15 and has a reduced portion 17 which constitutes'a valve seat. The forward end of this member. that is, the end toward the'engine, lies-substantially at the narrowest portion of the Venturi tube where the suction due to the passage of air therethrough is the greatest. A pipe 20 extending up from a. fuel tank 21 adapted to contain a fuel for normal operation of the engine such for example as kerosene, connects with the nozzle member 16 by means of a needle valve 22 having an operating handle 23. The tank 21 may be located in any convenient position such as in the base of the engine and, if desired, a ball valve 24 may. be employed at the lower end of the pipe 20 to maintain the fuel pipe. v Beyond the Venturi tube the member 10 is-formed with acircular bore 30 in which slides a hollow plug 31. An end plate 32 screwed into-the end of the member 10 has an annular portion 33 which extends within the plug 31 and serves to carry one end of a coil spring 34 whose opposite end engages' under the head of a push plate 35 secured to an operating rod 36. To prevent the plug level inthe supply 31 from turning it is provided with a spline Inward movement of the plug 31 is limited by a shoulder .139and when the plug is in contact with -this shoulder, the main air supply to the engine is cut off. The outer .portion of the `circular bore is provided with an annular chamfer which connects with a small hole -41.in the plug by means of an elongated opening 42 in the side of the plug. The length of this elongated opening 42 is so proportioned relative to the chamfer 40' that when the plug is moved to tion thereof inA starting the engine.

- ward position push. plate 35 tohold the plug 31 'againstor more volatile fuel contained 'in the auxits extreme forward .or inward position,

. sideand isA adapted to register with the elongated'opening 42 when the plug is moved inward but is cut off when the lug is inv its normai retracted position, i ustrated by e rod 36 is provided with a forwardly extending, axially located valve rod 47 vhav- .inga tapered endA 48 forming a valve which when the plug is moved to its extreme in nassesthrough the member 16 and engages the reduced portion or valve seat 17 uponwhieh it seats to closefof the flow of fuel from the tank 21. The member 16 is constructed to enga e the valve rod 47 with a sau fit' at the-en opposite the valve seat but t e intermediate .portion is conf structed with-suilicient clearance to permit the free 'iow of fuel past the rod when the. valve is o P911- f The operation ofthe'de 'ce is as follows.

" Suppose thatthe .engine iscold andV it is desired to start'the same. The throttle valveA 22 'controlling the low of fuel from the main supply tank 21 will first be opened the desired amount to operate they engine. .The crank shaft of the engine will-then be given one or more revolutions by hand or other means at the Sametime pressing upon the its seat 39.. In .this position, the flew of fuel from the main sup lytank will be shut off V by the valve 48, t e main air supply will alsobe closed butthe connection to the auxiliary fuel tank 44' wiil be open. The lighter iliary tank ywill thereupon be vaporlze'd and drawn into the-engine. -After theY engine has madea lfew revolutions, this auxilia fuel, itwill have developed suicient hea to readily va rize and run on the heavier or lessvolatile el contained in tank 21. Presduring the starting operation.

gradually withdrawn ermitting the plug S1 and valve 48 to be withdrawn whereby the regular operating fuel may flow to the engine, the airsupply opened and the valve controlling the `auxiliary fuel supply closed. The change from operation upon the starting fuel to operation upon the regular operating fuel may,.by this apparatus, be made gradual, the two fuels blending one with another After the engine is under way and operating on the heavier fuel, 1pressure upon the Vpush plate is entirely re eased, whereby the engine is given an unrestricted supply of air and the connection to the supply of starting fuel is Acompletely out off.

p While I have'describedmy invention in more or less detail, and as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire or intend to be limited, thereto, as on the contrary my invention contemplates broadly all proper changes, as well as the omission of immaterial elements and the substitution of equivalents therefor, as circumstances may sug est or necessityrender expedient. I

aving thus described my invention, what I claim as new` and desire to secure by Let-.

described, the v ters Patenuisz 1. In a device of the class `combination of an internal combustion engine having a fuel inlet, a tubular element connectedl to the fuel inlet, said tubular element having two fuel o enings and one air opening; a 'plurality o -.valvular members fixedly interconnected, adapted to open and close said openings; and means for operating said valvular members.

2.. In a device of the class described, the combination of .an .internal 4combustion engine having means for sup lying -fuel there# to, a valve for controllin the supply of said fuel, avalve for contro ing the amount of air supplied to said engine, means'for supplying amore volatile fuel to said engine for starting,- and a member' adapted to be actuated in starting said en e Vto close said fuel supply valve and said air supply valve whereby said more volatile fuel is drawn into the engine, said fuel supplying and con trolling means bein directly interconnected.

' 3. In a` device o the class described, the

combinationxof an internal combustion ene,means for supplying' and vapori'zing liquid fuel therefor including a Venturi tube, a valve for controllin said su ply, positioned at the constricte point o said Ve turi tube a valve-'for controlling 'the air su ply -to said engine, means in cludin y a. valve 'for supplying a more volatile fue to said engine for starting and a single manu 4. In a devicaof-"the yclass described, the

. combination of Van internal'cpmbustion en-v .sure upon the push plate 35 may thenbe gine, having a fuel inlet, armixing chamber izo all operable means for operating a'll said' A va ves.

connected to said inlet, said chamber having two fuel openngsand an air opening, valves two fuel openings and an air opening, valves for closing said fuel vand air openings, single for closing said fuel and air openings, and means for simultaneously closing one of said single means for simultaneously closing one fuel valves and said'air valve and opening 5 of said fuel valves and said air valve and the other of said fuel valves, and an airleak- 15 opening the other of said fuel valves. age conduit opening 'into said mixing cham- 5. In a device of the class described, the ber. Y combination of an internal combustion en- In testimony whereof, I affix my signature. gine, lhaving a fuel inlet, a mixing chamber 10 connected to said inlet, said chamber having HARRY R. PATTERSON. 

